Prerequisites

Free object

• Access to the File > Object (SP020) menu.
• Configured object type.
• Configured measurement unit.
• Created item characteristic.
• A previously created team responsible for analyzing the data collection.
• A previously created team responsible for collecting data.

Finished product

• Active license for SoftExpert PDM.
• Access to the Management > Item definition (IT011) menu.
• Configured measurement unit.
• Created item type.
• Created item characteristic.
• A previously created team responsible for analyzing the data collection.
• A previously created team responsible for collecting data.
• Created company.

Introduction

An item can be any component, product, or characteristic of a production process.

Its creation is the starting point to using the system, as it provides a basis for collecting data, applying control limits, performing statistical analyses, and guaranteeing that the production remains within the established standards, thus ensuring the compliance and quality of the process.

The system has 7 item types that can be linked to data collections:

• Free object: created in SoftExpert SPC, it does not require integration with any other SoftExpert Suite component; its record must simply be linked to an object type previously created in the Administration component. For example: documents, products, or gages.
• Product in progress: created through integration with SoftExpert PDM and SoftExpert Process, it analyzes the object during a specific step. For example: a batch of beer in the fermentation phase (temperature assessment).
• Finished product: created through integration with SoftExpert PDM, it analyzes the final product. For example: a batch of beer after all production stages (alcohol content assessment).
• Process: created through integration with SoftExpert Process, it analyzes the structured set of the activities. For example: the entire beer production process (assessment of the duration of all phases).
• Process activity: created through integration with SoftExpert Process, it analyzes the process more specifically. For example: duration of the fermentation phase in beer production (assessment of the time involved).
• Workflow: created through integration with SoftExpert Workflow, it analyzes a workflow/chain of activities. For example: a support request to the Information Technology department (assessment of how long it takes for the request to be executed).
• Workflow activities: created through integration with SoftExpert Workflow, it analyzes specific flow actions. For example: approval by the manager responsible for the Information Technology department (assessment of how long the action takes).

This article will present the steps for creating a free object in SoftExpert SPC and an item of the Finished product type through integration with SoftExpert PDM. 

Follow the instructions below to create the records:

Creating a free object in SoftExpert SPC

1. Access the File > Object (SP020) menu.

2. Expand the button and select the Add option.

3. Choose an object type and click on the button.

4. On the object data screen, enter an ID # or click on the button to generate an automatic sequential number.

5. Fill in the Name field.

6. In the Icon field, select an image.

7. Check the Enter quantity option to detail the monitoring. In this case, also specify the measurement unit of the object.

8. Click on the button to enable the other tabs and associate the characteristics of the object.

9. In the Characteristic section, click on the button.

10. Select the desired characteristic(s) and click on the button.

11. Back to the object data screen, click on the button again.

Creating a data collection item in SoftExpert PDM

1. Access the Management > Item definition (IT011) menu.

2. Click on the button.

3. Select the desired item type.

4. Click on the button to open the item data screen.

5. Insert the ID # or click on the button to generate an automatic sequential number.

6. Enter the name of the item that will be monitored.

7. Select the team responsible for the item.

8. Select the measurement unit of the item.

9. In the Characteristic section, select the Item option.

10. Select the type of the characteristic.

11. Click on the button.

12. In the Application tab of the characteristic data screen, enable the SPC option.

13. Fill in the # of items per sample field for the characteristics of the attribute type, or the # of readings and # of required readings fields for the characteristics of the variable type.

14. Select the collection and analysis teams involved.

15. Click on the button to return to the item data screen.

16. In the Companies section, choose the business partner related to the item that will be monitored: manufacturer, supplier, transporter, or customer. 

17. Click on the button.

Conclusion

Perform the following actions to move forward with the initial configurations:

• To learn how to create the shifts that will be associated with the collection in the execution step, click here.
• To learn how to set the task anticipation deadline in order to ensure greater control over the data collections, click here.
• To learn how to configure the rules for the event log that will be generated in the collection execution step, click here.
• To learn how to configure production-related occurrences, click here.
• To learn how to configure a view profile in order to customize the data collection screen and the data collection tracking resource, click here.

With the collection item created and the initial configurations performed, the system understands which characteristics can be part of the monitoring. The next step is to plan the data collection.